Psalm 40:1-3:
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.

A week ago, Santiago de Compostela was getting ready for its biggest holiday. July 25 celebrates the apostle James, for whom the city was named and for whom the Cathedral was built. Every year on July 24, the city puts on a light show and fireworks at the Cathedral.
July 24 is also our wedding anniversary. This year, Nate and I went out for a nice dinner and we had planned to go to the Cathedral afterward to celebrate with the rest of the town.

We didn’t know it, but while we ate a train derailed right outside Santiago. After dinner we walked to the Cathedral and immediately noticed how empty the square was and how much trash was on the ground. A teammate texted us about the derailment and said the city had cancelled all festivities. We went home and turned on the news, and quickly realized this was huge. We, along with the rest of Santiago and Spain, nosedived into grief and shock. Thankfully, no one on our team knew any of the passengers, but like everyone else our hearts went out to them, their families, and the driver of the train.

The next day, July 25, was the holiday and we had already planned to visit our friends at their beach rental for the day. So we tore ourselves away from the TV and the news and drove to see them. We spent a lot of time discussing the train crash. But we also got to celebrate life on earth – we swam, explored the area, and ate a lot of good food together. To be surrounded by so much natural beauty, and to spend time with some of our closest friends in Spain, was peaceful and helped begin our “climb” out of grief and shock.

The next two days were a mix of reading the news, being with the kids, and trying to get work done. The train crash weighed heavily on our minds, but again, as we didn’t know anyone on board, our grief was not nearly anything like that of those who lost family members. We emailed some key people and offered our practical assistance should there be any Americans who needed help after the accident, but otherwise things were quiet.

On Sunday we went to church, and I was reminded of how important it is to praise God in the midst of tragedy. We prayed for those still in the hospital and the families of those who had died. We also spent a long time worshiping the Lord through song and eventually my heart was affirming once again, that God is real, God is solid, and He’s faithful to give us peace and strength even when we’re in the middle of horrible circumstances. It was restorative, and it was another step in the gradual climb.

Someone wise once said, “Don’t forget in the darkness what you learned in the light.” In some ways we feel removed from this tragedy, since we didn’t know anyone personally who died or was injured. The time is coming, though, when another tragedy, illness, or death will hit closer to home. I’ll have to remember then that after the nosedive into grief the Lord will lead me on small climbs, one by one, to tasting joy again.

About the author

Faith Walter I live in Spain with my husband and four kids. We're blessed to serve the pilgrims who walk the Camino de Santiago and to watch God write the story of our life and team. I love British authors, Chinese food, Spanish hospitality, and American efficiency.More posts by this author

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2 Responses to Nosedives and Climbs

“Mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15 Our part, as Christians, in the story of others suffering is not as onlookers, but as mourners. It says something about you that your hearts grieved, even if only a little; it shows that your love for the people of Spain is growing. To love. This love will help others climb towards tasting joy again.

I love that quote “..remember what you have learned in the light.” How very true, yet since it’s impossible to see light in the darkness (otherwise it wouldn’t be called so), it’s hard to even remember light. I’ve experienced this. I had faint memories but nothing more. But I clung to it. I had to hope even though I couldn’t remember for what I was hoping. But God is always faithful, even when his timing is not on our schedule. I just read an interesting book by Philip Yancy that teaches how during crisis, Jesus never answered the “why did this happen?” question. He always pointed people to the future, “to what end?” In other words, how are you going to let this tragedy affect your life and those around you? We always have a choice. I like the choice you have made.

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